Patents by Inventor Michael James David Heald

Michael James David Heald has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10639424
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for an auto-injector having a drive unit housing arranged for docking receipt of a syringe or of a cassette unit comprising a syringe movable from a rest position, in which a needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture; and a drive arrangement including one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive; a first drive transfer element for advancing the syringe to said use position; and a second drive transfer element for moving a plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject liquid contents thereof. The drive unit housing is provided with a skin sensor arrangement having an array of plural skin sensor electrodes located about the needle delivery aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John Mcloughlin, Michael James David Heald, Cameron Townley Charles, Dylan Sanders Garrett, Kevin Richard Lozeau
  • Patent number: 10639423
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for an auto-injector having a drive unit housing arranged for docking receipt of a syringe or of a cassette unit comprising a syringe movable from a rest position, in which a needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture; and a drive arrangement including one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive; a first drive transfer element for advancing the syringe to said use position; and a second drive transfer element for moving a plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject liquid contents thereof. The drive unit housing is provided with a skin sensor arrangement having an array of plural skin sensor electrodes located about the needle delivery aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Cameron Townley Charles, Dylan Sanders Garrett, Kevin Richard Lozeau
  • Patent number: 10342925
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Brian David Barney
  • Patent number: 10099013
    Abstract: Provided is a manual drive unit for use with a cassette unit comprising a cassette unit housing containing there within a syringe comprising a barrel for containing a volume of a liquid drug formulation; a hollow needle at a front end of the barrel, the hollow needle defining a needle tip for dispensing of the liquid drug formulation; and a plunger that is axially movable within the barrel. The manual drive unit comprises a manual drive unit housing defining a docking cavity and a needle delivery aperture, wherein said docking cavity is arranged for docking receipt of the cassette unit at a docking position; and received by the manual drive unit housing and axially movable relative thereto, a manually operable drive transfer element for transferring axial drive to the plunger of the syringe for moving the plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject at least part of the volume of liquid drug formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Barry Alan Knight, Dirushan Pillay
  • Publication number: 20180104413
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Martin John MCLOUGHLIN, Michael James David HEALD, Brian David BARNEY
  • Publication number: 20180093041
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for an auto-injector having a drive unit housing arranged for docking receipt of a syringe or of a cassette unit comprising a syringe movable from a rest position, in which a needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture; and a drive arrangement including one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive; a first drive transfer element for advancing the syringe to said use position; and a second drive transfer element for moving a plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject liquid contents thereof. The drive unit housing is provided with a skin sensor arrangement having an array of plural skin sensor electrodes located about the needle delivery aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Martin John Mcloughlin, Michael James David Heald, Cameron Townley Charles, Dylan Sanders Garrett, Kevin Richard Lozeau
  • Patent number: 9901674
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe for injected delivery of a drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby acts to close off the needle projection aperture; and connecting to the removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing the needle tip of the syringe. The removable cap is provided with one or more first engagement features arranged for selectively engaging one or more second engagement features of the cassette unit housing when the removable cap is in the capping position to thereby restrict/prevent rotation of the removable cap and needle cover relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
  • Publication number: 20180043097
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for an auto-injector having a drive unit housing arranged for docking receipt of a syringe or of a cassette unit comprising a syringe movable from a rest position, in which a needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture; and a drive arrangement including one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive; a first drive transfer element for advancing the syringe to said use position; and a second drive transfer element for moving a plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject liquid contents thereof. The drive unit housing is provided with a skin sensor arrangement having an array of plural skin sensor electrodes located about the needle delivery aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventors: Martin John Mcloughlin, Michael James David Heald, Cameron Townley Charles, Dylan Sanders Garrett, Kevin Richard Lozeau
  • Patent number: 9884152
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a needle cover defining a needle sheath. The removable cap is provided with a connector defining one or more needle cover gripping elements for gripping the needle cover. The connector defines a central hub and the one or more needle gripper elements attach to the central hub and in spaced arrangement relative to each other. The connector locates within the removable cap such that the central hub of the connector is in spaced relationship with a far end wall or surface of the cap interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
  • Patent number: 9878092
    Abstract: There is provided a cassette unit that is suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture. The cassette unit includes a cap lock feature movable from a first cap locking position in which it prevents removal of the removable cap from the capping position with the cassette unit to a second cap non-locking position in which it no longer prevents such cap removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Keith Lipford, Ilario Melzi
  • Patent number: 9867941
    Abstract: Provided is a drive unit for an auto-injector having a drive unit housing arranged for docking receipt of a syringe or of a cassette unit comprising a syringe movable from a rest position, in which a needle tip of the syringe is within the drive unit housing to a use position, in which the needle tip protrudes from a needle delivery aperture; and a drive arrangement including one or more electrically powered sources of axial drive; a first drive transfer element for advancing the syringe to said use position; and a second drive transfer element for moving a plunger into the barrel of the syringe to eject liquid contents thereof. The drive unit housing is provided with a skin sensor arrangement having an array of plural skin sensor electrodes located about the needle delivery aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Cameron Townley Charles, Dylan Sanders Garrett, Kevin Richard Lozeau
  • Patent number: 9821123
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity arranged for receipt of a syringe; a needle projection aperture; a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of a needle tip of the syringe; a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture, the removable cap defining a cap interior; provided to the removable cap, a cap insert; and provided to the cap insert, a connector defining one or more needle cover gripping elements for gripping the needle cover and the connector defines a central hub and the one or more needle gripper elements attach to the central hub and in spaced arrangement relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald
  • Patent number: 9808575
    Abstract: There is provided a cassette unit that is suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit has a housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The cassette unit housing cavity is arranged for receipt of a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The cassette unit includes a removable cap that fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture; and connecting to the removable cap, a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of the needle tip of the syringe. The removable cap is provided with a finger-grip feature that is sized and shaped for gripping by the finger of a user to allow for removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Michael Schumann, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Keith Lipford, Ilario Melzi
  • Patent number: 9789254
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity, which is in receipt of a syringe, a rearward entrance to said cavity and a forward needle projection aperture. The cassette unit also comprises in capping relationship with the rearward entrance of the cassette unit housing, a cassette unit end-cap, said cassette unit end-cap defining a drive rod-receiving opening for receipt of a drive rod for providing forward axial drive to said plunger; a biasing element defining a biasing relationship between the cassette unit end-cap and an end flange of the syringe barrel, thereby urging the syringe forwards in relation to the cassette unit end-cap; and a damping element defining a damping relationship between the cassette unit end-cap and the flange of the syringe, thereby acting to damp rearward movement of the syringe relative to the cassette unit end-cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Brian David Barney
  • Patent number: 9764084
    Abstract: There is provided an auto-injector for a syringe that is suitable for use in the injected delivery of drug to a patient. The auto-injector comprises a cassette unit arranged for receipt of a syringe provided with a needle cover and removable cap. The auto-injector also comprises a drive unit arranged for docking receipt of the cassette unit at a docking position and a drive arrangement. The drive unit is provided with a timer that starts a time count on removal of the removable cap and needle cover from the cassette unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Darrell P. Morgan, Michael James David Heald, Kevin Richard Lozeau, Agnete Enga, Heather Martin, Eric Freitag, Daniel Formosa, Brian Lipford, Jake Cowperthwaite, Alex Flamm, Ilario Melzi
  • Patent number: 9757521
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity, a rearward entrance to said cavity and a forward needle projection aperture. The housing cavity may receive a syringe comprising a barrel; a needle at a front end of the barrel; and a plunger that is axially movable within the barrel. The cassette unit also comprises in capping relationship with the rearward entrance of the cassette unit housing, a cassette unit end-cap, said cassette unit end-cap defining a drive rod-receiving opening for receipt of a drive rod for providing forward axial drive to said plunger; and a biasing element defining a biasing relationship between the cassette unit end-cap and an end flange of the syringe barrel, thereby urging the syringe forwards in relation to the cassette unit end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Ilario Melzi, Stefan Verlaak, Tatiana Palombi
  • Patent number: 9757524
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a housing cavity, a rearward entrance to the cavity and a forward needle projection aperture. The housing cavity may receive a syringe. Axially movable within the barrel of the syringe for forward movement into contact with the syringe plunger, there is a plunger slaving part defining a circumferential wall arranged for frictional sliding relationship with the inner wall of the barrel, a rear drive-receiving face and a front plunger-contacting face. In capping relationship with the rearward entrance of the cassette unit housing there is an end-cap defining a drive rod-receiving opening for receipt of a drive rod for providing forward axial drive to the plunger slaving part. In a pre-use configuration, the plunger slaving part is shaped for releasable engagement with the end-cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UCB BIOPHARMA SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Ilario Melzi, Stefan Verlaak, Tatiana Palombi
  • Patent number: 9757513
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having an electrically powered drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity and a needle projection aperture. The housing cavity may receive a syringe. Axially movable within the barrel of the syringe for forward movement into contact with the syringe plunger, there is a plunger slaving part defining a circumferential wall arranged for frictional sliding relationship with the inner wall of the barrel, a rear drive-receiving face and a front plunger-contacting face. The plunger slaving part is arranged such that when a drive load is applied to its rear drive-receiving face to bring the front plunger-contacting face into contact with the plunger the drive load is evenly transmitted. The circumferential wall is provided with slide restrictors that restrict frictional sliding movement thereof in relation to the inner wall of the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: UCB Biopharma SPRL
    Inventors: Martin John McLoughlin, Michael James David Heald, Ilario Melzi, Stefan Verlaak, Tatiana Palombi
  • Publication number: 20170007763
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity, which is in receipt of a syringe, a rearward entrance to said cavity and a forward needle projection aperture. The cassette unit also comprises in capping relationship with the rearward entrance of the cassette unit housing, a cassette unit end-cap, said cassette unit end-cap defining a drive rod-receiving opening for receipt of a drive rod for providing forward axial drive to said plunger; a biasing element defining a biasing relationship between the cassette unit end-cap and an end flange of the syringe barrel, thereby urging the syringe forwards in relation to the cassette unit end-cap; and a damping element defining a damping relationship between the cassette unit end-cap and the flange of the syringe, thereby acting to damp rearward movement of the syringe relative to the cassette unit end-cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Martin John MCLOUGHLIN, Michael James David HEALD, Brian David BARNEY
  • Publication number: 20170000955
    Abstract: Provided is a cassette unit suitable for use with an auto-injector having a drive unit. The cassette unit comprises a cassette unit housing defining a cassette unit housing cavity arranged for receipt of a syringe; a needle projection aperture; a needle cover defining a needle sheath for sheathing of a needle tip of the syringe; a removable cap that in a capping position fits over and thereby, acts such as to close off, the needle projection aperture, the removable cap defining a cap interior; provided to the removable cap, a cap insert; and provided to the cap insert, a connector defining one or more needle cover gripping elements for gripping the needle cover and the connector defines a central hub and the one or more needle gripper elements attach to the central hub and in spaced arrangement relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Martin John MCLOUGHLIN, Michael James David HEALD